As a rule we preach patience with rookie wide receivers. It can take a while for them to figure things out in the NFL. Someone forgot to tell that to the 2021 class.
Through Week 5 there are five rookie receivers in the top 50 of PPR scoring. That includes Kadarius Toney, who will be one of the top priorities on the waiver wire this week. But even that doesn’t quite do this class justice.
Ja’Marr Chase currently ranks eighth for the season, one spot ahead of last year’s top rookie, Justin Jefferson. Chase did it in an unsustainable way early in the year, catching deep bombs on low target volume, but he has 19 targets in his past two games and looks entrenched as a No. 1 receiver for the next decade.
DeVonta Smith and Rondale Moore are both inside the top 36, but like Chase, they’re just now getting started. Smith has 14 catches for 199 yards in his last two games combined and would rank higher if not for poor touchdown luck. Moore has been harder to count on, though he does have a couple of boom weeks. And it’s hard to imagine the Cardinals won’t look at his 11.3 yards per target and 8.3 yards per carry and think he doesn’t need more touches.
Waddle’s production has been held back by Jacoby Brissett, but he’s one of my favorite buy-low candidates, and Toney just did something only six receivers have ever done.
So what’s the point of all this? One, just to give some credit where credit is due. I mostly buy these five and I’m willing to buy them in re-draft or Dynasty. Two, don’t forget that this is abnormal. While I understand dropping Elijah Moore or Terrace Marshall in re-draft, now is a perfect time to make a buy-low offer for them in Dynasty.
Here is the rest of the Week 6 WR Preview:
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Week 6 WR Preview
The following players are not being projected to play Week 6 at this time. Here’s what it means:
WR Preview
Numbers to Know
- 37.9% — Davante Adams leads the NFL with a 37.9% target share.
- 49.9% — Brandin Cooks has accounted for 49.9% of the Texans air yards, the highest mark in the league.
- 141 — Kadarius Toney has picked up 141 yards after the catch the past two weeks, the most in the NFL.
- 8.97 — Tyler Boyd is averaging less than nine PPR points per game in three games with Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase.
- 168 — Jakobi Meyers has now seen 168 career targets without a receiving touchdown. Yes, I’m going to update this every week until he scores.
- 50.3% — For the first time since Lamar Jackson became their starting quarterback, the Ravens are passing more than half of their offensive plays.
- 148.5 — Joe Burrow has a 148.5 passer rating when targeting Ja’Marr Chase.
WR Preview
Matchups that matter
Sportsline
WR Preview
Waiver Wire Targets
Sportsline
Sportsline
WR Preview
Heath’s Projections